16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

Appetizers | Dips, Sauces, and Condiments | Snacks | Vegan Basics | | Vegan Recipes

ByKarissa

Oh, cheese! It can be difficult to give it up when going vegan. However, there are so many options out there now…including vegan cheese recipes you can make right at home.

16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (1)

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“I could go vegan…but I’d miss cheese!”

I have heard that phrase so much, and I have also been guilty of saying it! Cheese is one of those things that is really tough to replicate without using animal products.

And we are so used to cheese on everything. Cream cheese on bagels, parmesan on pasta, nacho cheese dip with our chips, sliced cheese on all the sandwiches, and so much more. Cheese is everywhere.

Store-bought dairy-free/vegan cheese can be a total hit or miss. I’ve tried so, so many types from every different brand I could find. And about 75% of them are either absolute misses or just underwhelming.

However, I have found some totally delicious vegan cheese at the store!

Store-Bought Cheese Recommendations:

  • GoVeggie Cream Cheese
  • Kite Hill Mozzarella
  • VioLife Shredded Mozzarella
  • VioLife Shredded Cheddar
  • Follow Your Heart Sliced Gouda
  • Follow Your Heart Sliced American
  • Follow Your Heart Shredded Parmesan
  • Miyoko’s Garlic Herb Cheese Wheel
  • Field Roast Chao Slices

But don’t stop there! While store-bought vegan cheese has come a long way, I also recommend making your own at home. They are often easy to make, healthier, and totally customizable to your flavorful preferences!

For example, I’ve tried a few store-bought vegan cheese dips but none of them compare to my homemade queso!

Vegan Cheese Recipes

Delicious, vegan cheese recipes you can make right at home.

Vegan Queso

4.77 from 21 votes

This white vegan queso is made in a blender in just minutes!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2)

Vegan Nacho Cheese

4.77 from 42 votes

Healthy nacho cheese?! Yup! This recipe is so flavorful and perfect to dip in chips in or drizzle onto tacos.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (3)

Vegan Cream Cheese

5 from 12 votes

Homemade vegan cream cheese is SO simple to make. This version is made with cashews.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (4)

Vegan Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball

4.89 from 9 votes

This cheeseball is always a hit, especially around the holidays!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (5)

Easy Cheesy Vegan Parmesan

4.19 from 22 votes

Homemade, shakeable vegan parmesan cheese made from simple ingredients like cashews and nutritional yeast.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (6)

Vegan Feta Cheese

4.60 from 5 votes

This easy vegan feta cheese substitute is made using tofu. Add to a charcuterie board, smear on toast, or toss into your favorite salad!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (7)

All-Purpose Cheese Sauce

4.86 from 106 votes

The best vegan cheese sauce made in 5 minutes with just 8 ingredients. This easy sauce is great as a dip and as a pasta sauce.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (8)

Vegan Ricotta Cheese

4.25 from 4 votes

Easy vegan ricotta made with soaked cashews and a block of tofu.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (9)

Vegan Beer Cheese Dip

4.93 from 27 votes

Creamy, mouth-watering, and super flavorful vegan beer cheese dip…made in 10 minutes! Enjoy this dairy-free dip as a snack or appetizer.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (10)

Vegan Pepper Jack Cheese

This perfect vegan pepper jack cheese is creamy and spicy and perfect for sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese and crackers, and charcuterie boards. You’ll love how quick and easy it is to make your own vegan cheese! (aplantifulpath.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (11)

Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella

Ooey gooey vegan mozzarella you can put on pizza or dip chips in! (itdoesnttastelikechicken.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (12)

Vegan Cheddar Cheese

Serve this stunning jalapeno cheddar cheese ball to your family & friends and they'll be amazed! (mydarlingvegan.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (13)

Jalapeño Cashew Cheese Spread

This spicy vegan cheese spread makes for a great appetizer or to add flavor to sandwiches! (cadryskitchen.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (14)

Smoked Paprika Basil Goat Cheese

Yup, you can even make vegan goat cheese! (wellvegan.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (15)

Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing

This creamy tangy vegan blue cheese dressing is made with tofu and cashews. Use as a salad dressing, dip for or topping. (veggiefunkitchen.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (16)

Extra Mature Vegan Cheddar

Missing that sharp cheddar taste? Try this recipe! (yumsome.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (17)

16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat vegan cheese everyday? ›

Some of the more processed types of vegan cheese contain large amounts of refined oils, preservatives, color additives and sodium while being mostly void of substantial nutritional value. In general, foods like this should be consumed minimally, if at all.

What is the best vegan cheese in the world? ›

Check out our list of the 5 Best Vegan Cheeses in North America in 2022.
  1. #1 Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella. Miyoko's Creamery.
  2. #2 Creamy Original Chao Slices. Field Roast.
  3. #3 Boursin dairy free Garlic and Herbs. Boursin.
  4. #4 Just Like Mozzarella Shreds. Violife.
  5. #5 Dairy-Free Parmesan Shredded. Follow Your Heart.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

Ingredients Used in Vegan Cheese
  • Nutritional Yeast: It is a deactivated yeast rich in B vitamins and has a slightly cheesy flavor. ...
  • Agar Agar: This is a gelling agent made from seaweed. ...
  • Tapioca Starch: Tapioca starch is a starchy flour made from cassava root. ...
  • Coconut Oil: This is a plant-based oil high in saturated fats.
Mar 30, 2023

How long does homemade vegan cheese last in the fridge? ›

It is great to eat on sandwiches or in a grilled cheese. There are so many fun ways to use these. They will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days and they will be something you want to make and always have on hand.

What are the cons of vegan cheese? ›

Other drawbacks:
  • A lot of vegan cheese has little or no protein, just fat and starch.
  • Those that do have protein tend to taste the least like traditional cheeses.
  • Vegan cheese is expensive — those made from nuts, peas or other nutrient-dense foods can run as much as $10 for a small cube.

Is vegan cheese anti-inflammatory? ›

Taste and Nutrition. Containing oilseed and plant milk, vegan cheeses are rich in minerals (magnesium) and antioxidants, and they possess anti-inflammatory properties, all of which protect against damage caused by free radicals.

What is the closest vegan cheese to real cheese? ›

  • 19 best vegan cheese brands. There's good vegan cheese but there is also great vegan cheese. ...
  • 1 Chao. For a neutral-tasting cheese that goes with almost everything, check out Chao's Creamy Original in block or slice form. ...
  • 2 Follow Your Heart. ...
  • 3 Kite Hill. ...
  • 5 Violife. ...
  • 6 Daiya. ...
  • 7 Good Planet Foods. ...
  • 8 Moocho.

Why is vegan cheese so expensive? ›

The production of vegan cheese can be costlier than that of traditional dairy cheese due to the higher prices of plant-based ingredients and the additional processing steps involved.

Will vegan cheese ever taste like real cheese? ›

It's important to understand that vegan cheese, being made with different ingredients, typically does not taste exactly like traditional dairy cheese. However, it does replicate some of the flavors and textures that you might remember from dairy cheese and tastes great in its own right.

Why are cashews used in vegan cheese? ›

Nuts were a game-changer for vegan cheese because they provide a lot of fat: 100 grams of cashews have 44 grams of fat, versus 6.4 grams of fat in the same amount of soybeans. This allows for richer flavor and texture that gets closer to imitating animal milk dairy.

Do vegans eat mayonnaise? ›

It's simple: even though it's completely dairy-free, regular mayonnaise isn't vegan because it's made by mixing a raw egg with oil. So conventional mayo contains eggs and they are vegetarian, but not vegan.

Is there any non-dairy cheese that tastes good? ›

Miyoko's Mozzarella

If you're making a caprese salad or pizza, Miyoko's mozzarella is a must. Both the original and smoked flavors mimic the texture of dairy-based mozz so well; she's even got the melting thing down. Of all the dairy-free cheeses, this might be the most addictive. It's so good.

Is homemade vegan cheese healthy? ›

If you're really trying to stick with a whole food plant-based/vegan way of life, making your own vegan cheese is often healthier than store-bought -- which can have gums, oils, and fillers in spades. And good news: making dairy-free cheese is really easy!

How to make vegan cheese taste better? ›

Nutritional yeast – It gives this dairy-free cheese the nutty, savory flavor of the real thing! Garlic and onion powder – They add delicious depth of flavor. Apple cider vinegar – It gives this vegan cheese a bright, tangy finish.

Can you freeze homemade vegan cheese? ›

Storage/ Make Ahead/ Freeze: The cheese can be kept wrapped in the fridge for up to a week or it can be frozen. Substitute for cashews: cashews are my preference as they are creamy and mild in flavor, but if you need to substitute them you can use macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or raw sunflower seeds.

Is vegan cheese too processed? ›

Most vegan cheeses are processed: Some plant-based cheeses are highly processed, which means they contain preservatives, color additives and sodium. If you do opt for vegan cheese, browse the brands that boast simple, straightforward ingredients.

Is vegan cheese good for gut health? ›

Vegan cheeses with probiotics can offer several potential benefits, including: Improved digestion: The probiotics in vegan cheeses can help improve digestive function and promote healthy gut flora, reducing symptoms of bloating, gas, and constipation.

Does vegan cheese raise cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol is only found in animal-based foods. Vegan cheese is always made from 100% plant-based ingredients and never contains cholesterol. Overdoing it on vegan cheeses that are high in saturated fat, however, may raise cholesterol levels, especially in people who are more sensitive to its effects.

Is it safe to eat vegan meat everyday? ›

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

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